Nile River Valley Civilization Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”

Nile River Valley Nile River Valley CivilizationCivilization

Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”

GeographyGeography

Developed along the Nile RiverDeveloped along the Nile River• Longest river in the worldLongest river in the world• Flood, plant, harvest, floodFlood, plant, harvest, flood• Silt: rich, fertile soilSilt: rich, fertile soil• Worshipped as a godWorshipped as a god

DesertsDeserts• Protected from invasionsProtected from invasions• Reduced interaction with other peoplesReduced interaction with other peoples

GeographyGeography

Upper EgyptUpper Egypt• SouthSouth• 11stst cataract (rapids) to where river fans cataract (rapids) to where river fans

outout Lower EgyptLower Egypt

• North near the seaNorth near the sea• Nile delta regionNile delta region• Broad, marshy area formed by silt Broad, marshy area formed by silt

deposits at mouth of riverdeposits at mouth of river

Lower EgyptLower Egypt

GeographyGeographyADVANTAGEADVANTAGE

Advantage over Mesopotamian Advantage over Mesopotamian civilizations: Nile River very civilizations: Nile River very

predictable in flooding. predictable in flooding. Tigris/Euphrates Rivers very Tigris/Euphrates Rivers very

unpredictable.unpredictable.

GeographyGeography

FloodingFlooding• Yearly flodding in JulyYearly flodding in July• Rain and melted snow traveled from Rain and melted snow traveled from

central-east Africacentral-east Africa

NavigationNavigation• Drift North towards the deltaDrift North towards the delta• Sail south with the windSail south with the wind

GeographyGeography

Natural BarriersNatural Barriers• The desert surroundings reduced The desert surroundings reduced

contact with other civilizationscontact with other civilizations• The desert also provided a natural The desert also provided a natural

barrier that shut out invadersbarrier that shut out invaders

HistoryHistory

Menes – first ruler of a united EgyptMenes – first ruler of a united Egypt

The Old Kingdom 2660-2180 B.C.The Old Kingdom 2660-2180 B.C.

The Middle Kingdom 2080-1640 B.C.The Middle Kingdom 2080-1640 B.C.

The New Kingdom 1640-1075 B.C.The New Kingdom 1640-1075 B.C.

United EGYPTUnited EGYPT

OLD KingdomOLD Kingdom

Social CulturalSocial Cultural• Polytheistic- deities associated with Polytheistic- deities associated with

objects and emotionsobjects and emotions• Pyramids-final resting place for Pyramids-final resting place for

pharaohspharaohs• Hierarchy-royal family and nobles, Hierarchy-royal family and nobles,

middle class, and lower classmiddle class, and lower class• Afterlife-soul weighed against a featherAfterlife-soul weighed against a feather

Social HierarchySocial Hierarchy


PoliticalPolitical• God-Kings- success depended on his God-Kings- success depended on his

ability to fulfill his religious obligations ability to fulfill his religious obligations and believe to be divineand believe to be divine

• THEOCRACY- government where the THEOCRACY- government where the ruler is seen as divineruler is seen as divine

• Capital at MemphisCapital at Memphis


EconomicEconomic• Massive Public Works-building of the Massive Public Works-building of the

pyramidspyramids• Pyramids at GizaPyramids at Giza• Papyrus-record keeping on first paperPapyrus-record keeping on first paper

disadvantage: disadvantage: decomposesdecomposes

GizaGiza

Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom

SocialSocial• Hierarchy continues- strong central Hierarchy continues- strong central

authority established by nobles and authority established by nobles and pharaohs power diminishedpharaohs power diminished


PoliticalPolitical• Hyksos-asian nomads swept into Egypt Hyksos-asian nomads swept into Egypt

with horse drawn chariotswith horse drawn chariots


EconomicEconomic• Trade and Transportation- canal dug Trade and Transportation- canal dug

from Nile to Red Seafrom Nile to Red Sea• MODERN day Suez canalMODERN day Suez canal

New KingdomNew Kingdom

Social Social • Valley of the KingsValley of the Kings• Hierarchy continuesHierarchy continues


Political Political • Hatshepsut-encouraged trade instead of Hatshepsut-encouraged trade instead of

warwarsince queen was not accepted since queen was not accepted

even she even she is depicted as having a beardis depicted as having a beard

• Term “Pharaoh” is first usedTerm “Pharaoh” is first used• Capital moved to ThebesCapital moved to Thebes• KING TUT-unimportant rule, but famousKING TUT-unimportant rule, but famous

King TutKing Tut


Economic Economic • First time trade is encouragedFirst time trade is encouraged

General Political/RulersGeneral Political/Rulers

God-KingsGod-Kings Pharaohs = divinePharaohs = divine Theocracy = ruler a divine figureTheocracy = ruler a divine figure Responsible for Kingdom’s well beingResponsible for Kingdom’s well being Dynasties = ruling familiesDynasties = ruling families

Social/CulturalSocial/Cultural

Religion = polytheistic (many gods)Religion = polytheistic (many gods)• Believed in after-life and judgmentBelieved in after-life and judgment• Pyramids = tombs after deathPyramids = tombs after death• The Old Kingdom was great age of The Old Kingdom was great age of

pyramid buildingpyramid building• Mummification: preserve body by Mummification: preserve body by

embalming and dryingembalming and drying• Consumed with the after-lifeConsumed with the after-life

What happened when a Pharaoh What happened when a Pharaoh died?died?

When a pharaoh died, the body was When a pharaoh died, the body was preserved by people called embalmers.preserved by people called embalmers.

Embalmers took the body to the Beautiful Embalmers took the body to the Beautiful House- the name of where they worked.House- the name of where they worked.

They removed some of the inner parts of They removed some of the inner parts of the body first. The organs were taken out the body first. The organs were taken out and stored in special containers called and stored in special containers called canopic jars. canopic jars.

The heart was left in the body however, so The heart was left in the body however, so that it could be weighed in the afterlife.that it could be weighed in the afterlife.

Then they rubbed the body with special Then they rubbed the body with special ointments and wrapped it tightly with ointments and wrapped it tightly with bandages.bandages.

When a body had been treated in this way When a body had been treated in this way it was called a mummy. it was called a mummy.

The mummy was put in a coffin. The coffin The mummy was put in a coffin. The coffin was the same shape as the body, and had was the same shape as the body, and had a carved , painted face on it.a carved , painted face on it.

A funeral was held by a Priest in the A funeral was held by a Priest in the temple.temple.

The coffin was then taken to the The coffin was then taken to the pharaoh’s tomb. pharaoh’s tomb.

The pharaoh was buried with all their The pharaoh was buried with all their possessions, for use on the journey possessions, for use on the journey to the next world.to the next world.

The Egyptians believed that The Egyptians believed that mummification preserved the body of mummification preserved the body of the deceased and ensured their the deceased and ensured their survival forever.survival forever.

PyramidPyramid

Great SphinxGreat Sphinx


Society structured like a pyramidSociety structured like a pyramid• Royalty at topRoyalty at top• Upper Class = wealthy landowners, Upper Class = wealthy landowners,

government officials, priests, etc.government officials, priests, etc.• Middle Class = merchants and artisansMiddle Class = merchants and artisans• Lower Class = peasants, etc.Lower Class = peasants, etc.• Women had many of same rights as Women had many of same rights as

menmen

Pharaohs and QueensPharaohs and Queens Who were the Who were the

Pharaohs?Pharaohs?

They were the kings or They were the kings or Queens of Egypt. They Queens of Egypt. They were the head of the were the head of the government and high government and high priest of every temple. priest of every temple. The pharaoh owned all The pharaoh owned all of Egypt. He or she of Egypt. He or she decided what was right decided what was right or wrong and their word or wrong and their word was law. The people of was law. The people of Egypt considered the Egypt considered the pharaoh to be a half-pharaoh to be a half-human and half-god. human and half-god.

PriestsPriests

Priests were very Priests were very important people in important people in Egyptian times. Besides Egyptian times. Besides serving the gods, serving the gods, priests did many other priests did many other jobs, such as teaching, jobs, such as teaching, or even helping with or even helping with the harvest. Priests had the harvest. Priests had to be pure and clean. to be pure and clean. They shaved their They shaved their heads and bodies and heads and bodies and washed four times a washed four times a day.day.

This statue of a priest has a bald

head, a fake beard and he is in

the praying position

NoblesNobles

Noble on a hunting trip with

his family

Court Officials and Noblemen held high office in Ancient Egypt and helped the Pharaoh to rule the country. The Pharaoh would often reward loyal nobles with gifts of land, so that they would earn their own money from taxes.

Being a noble was one of the best jobs in Egypt. Nobles were rich and could enjoy themselves hunting and having banquets.

ScribesScribes What is a Scribe?What is a Scribe?

Scribes were the few Scribes were the few Egyptians who knew how Egyptians who knew how to read and write. Being a to read and write. Being a scribe was an extremely scribe was an extremely difficult job because in difficult job because in total, there were hundreds total, there were hundreds of different hieroglyphs to of different hieroglyphs to remember. remember.

A scribe's job was highly A scribe's job was highly regarded in Ancient Egypt. regarded in Ancient Egypt. Although being a scribe Although being a scribe was rewarding, the training was rewarding, the training could take as long as could take as long as twelve years. twelve years. A peasant

making papyrus

Scribes were very wise

This statue of a Scribe was found

in his tomb

CraftsmenCraftsmen

Craftsmen carving statues and ornaments

Carpenters using a

bow drill

Metal workers making precious objects

Egyptian craftsmen Egyptian craftsmen were highly skilled. were highly skilled. They learned their They learned their trade from their trade from their fathers and, in turn, fathers and, in turn, taught their sons. taught their sons. They used simple They used simple techniques and tools techniques and tools to make all sorts of to make all sorts of useful things. The useful things. The Pharaoh, government Pharaoh, government or temples often or temples often employed them.employed them.

PeasantsPeasants

The most important The most important business in Egypt business in Egypt was farming. Most of was farming. Most of the people who the people who worked in the fields worked in the fields and barns were and barns were peasants. During the peasants. During the flood season when flood season when no farming could be no farming could be done the peasants done the peasants did building work on did building work on temples and palaces.temples and palaces.

Peasants herding

cattle for the Pharaoh

Peasants preparing food for a banquet


WritingWriting• HieroglyphicsHieroglyphics• Papyrus – writing surface (paper)Papyrus – writing surface (paper)• Rosetta StoneRosetta Stone

Discovered in 1799Discovered in 1799 Clue to deciphering hieroglyphicsClue to deciphering hieroglyphics

EconomicEconomic

Nile River helped unify Egypt and Nile River helped unify Egypt and promote tradepromote trade

Reliable transportation between Reliable transportation between Upper and Lower EgyptUpper and Lower Egypt

During Middle Kingdom, dug canals During Middle Kingdom, dug canals from Nile to Red Seafrom Nile to Red Sea

Trade with Mesopotamia and Indus Trade with Mesopotamia and Indus river valley civilizationsriver valley civilizations

EconomicEconomic

Wealth from new trade used for Wealth from new trade used for public works projectspublic works projects

Dikes and irrigationDikes and irrigation

AccomplishmentsAccomplishments

HieroglyphicsHieroglyphics PapyrusPapyrus Geometry-property boundriesGeometry-property boundries Mathematics and Engineering- Mathematics and Engineering-

building of pyramidsbuilding of pyramids Solar calendarSolar calendar Advances in medicine-pulse, surgeryAdvances in medicine-pulse, surgery Use of bronze-two wheeled chariotsUse of bronze-two wheeled chariots

Documents

Nile River Valley Civilization Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”